Firing pin safety device for a pistol



Oct. 5, 1965 G. L. MITTELSTEADT 3,209,480

FIRING PIN SAFETY DEVICE FOR A PISTOL Filed Aug. 28, 1964 United States Patent 3,209,480 FIRING PIN SAFETY DEVICE FOR A PISTOL Glen L. Mittelsteadt, Waseca, Minn., assiguor to Herters Inc, Waseca, Minn, a corporation of Minnesota Filed Aug. 28, 1964, Ser. No. 392,829 Claims. (Cl. 42-70) This invention relates to guns and more specifically to a safety device for derringer type pistols.

An object of this invention is to provide a safety device for derringer type pistols which may be readily moved into and out of obstructing relation with respect to the hammer of the pistol to prevent the latter from becoming accidentally discharged even when the pistol is accidently dropped.

Another object of this invention is the provision in a derringer type pistol of a unique safety mechanism which may be moved into obstructing and engaging relation with respect to the hammer of the pistol, and which is retained in a safe condition by its coaction with the hammer, but which is normally urged out of obstructing relation with respect to the hammer.

A still further object of this invention is the provision in a derringer type gun of a safety device in addition to the conventional safety devices employed in derringer type pistols and which requires substantially no modification or alteration of conventional derringer type pistols.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will more fully appear from the following description made in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein like character references refer to the same or similar parts throughout the several views, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a derringer pistol incorporating my novel safety device;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view on an enlarged scale of the derringer type pistol with parts thereof broken away to more clearly illustrate normally concealed parts thereof;

FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view taken approximately along line 33 of FIG. 2 and looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view taken approximately along line 44 of FIG. 2 and looking in the direction of the arrows; and

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the safety mechanism.

Referring now to the drawings and more specifically to FIG. 1 it will be seen that a derringer type pistol, designated generally by the reference numeral and generally of conventional construction, is there shown. This pistol includes a frame 11 preferably constructed of a suitable metallic material such as nickel plated steel or the like. The frame 11 is comprised of a handle or hand grip portion 12 having a generally kidney-shaped opening therethrough defining a chamber 13 in which are disposed parts of the trigger and hammer mechanisms. The chamber 13 is closed by suitable hand grip cover elements 14 shaped and contoured to engage the handle 12 in covering relation with respect to the chamber 13 and are clamped against the hand grip portion of the frame by a suitable bolt and nut assembly 15. The hand grip cover elements are preferably constructed of a suitable rigid plastic material and present a checkered or unsmooth exterior surface to facilitate gripping by a user.

The frame 11 also includes a generally forwardly projecting channel-shaped barrel supporting portion 16 integrally formed with the hand grip portion 12. This barrel supporting portion 16 has a trigger supporting and guard member 17 integrally formed therewith and depending therefrom. The barrel supporting portion also includes a breach wall member 18 which terminates upwardly 3,209,480 Patented Gct. 5, 1965 in a pair of forwardly projecting attachment cars 19 which are suitably apertured for receiving a pivot bolt 20 therethrough. The breach wall member 18 has an upper bore 21 therethrough and a lower bore 22 therethrough for accommodating the upper and lower firing pins of the firing mechanism.

To this end, it is pointed out that the barrel structure 23 which is of suitable nickel-plated steel construction is of the over and under type and includes an upper barrel 24 and a lower barrel 25. The upper barrel 24 has an apertured attachment lug 26 integrally formed with the rear end thereof and which is positioned between the attachment ears 19 and receives the pivot bolt 20 therethrough. Thus the pivot bolt 20 provides the pivotal connection of the barrel structure with the frame and allows the barrel structure to be pivoted from the closed or operative position, as illustrated in FIG. 1 in a forward and upward direction to an open position to provide access to the chambers of the upper and lower barrels.

The lower barrel 25 adjacent its rear end portion has a locking recess and locking lug on the lower surface thereof which is releasably engaged by a semi-cylindrically shaped locking element 27 wich projects transversely through and has the opposite ends thereof journaled in aligned apertures formed in the barrel supporting portion 16 of the frame 11. This semi-cylindrically shaped locking element 27 may be revolved between a locking position and a released position by actuating element 28 which is secured to one end of the locking element and positioned exteriorly of the trigger supporting guard member 17, as best seen in FIG. 1. When the locking element 27 is rotated so that the convex side thereof is positioned upwardly in the locking recess of the lower barrel 25, the barrel structure 23 will then be retained in its closed position. However, when the actuating element 28 is swung in a counter-clockwise direction, as viewed in FIG. 1, then the flattened side of the locking element is positioned upwardly and allows the locking lug on the lower barrel to clear the locking element as the barrel structure is swung upwardly and forwardly to the open position.

The firing mechanism includes an upper firing pin 29 axially shiftablein the firing pin bore 21 and a lower firing pin 30 axially shiftable in the lower firing pin bore 22. It will be seen'that each of the firing pins is provided with a retaining collar for preventing axial removal of the firing pin from its seated relation within its associated bore and a spring 31 urges the upper firing pin normally to a retracted position while a spring 32 normally urges the lower firing pin 30 to a retracted position. Thus in the absence of the application of an external force applied by the hammer of the gun, the firing pins 29 and 30 are normally disposed in a retracted position with respect to the breach wall member 18. However, when, the hammer is released from a cocked position it alternately thrusts either the upper or lower firing pin from its retracted position to an extended or firing position so that the firing pin actuated projects forwardly beyond the front surface of the breach wall member 18.

Mechanism for actuating the firing pins comprises a hammer 33 which is positioned within an upwardly opening hammer receiving socket or recess 34 in the hand grip portion 12 of the frame 11 located rearwardlyv of the breach wall member 18. This hammer receiving recess 34 also communicates with the chamber 13, as.

best seen in FIG. 2. The hammer 33 is pivotally mounted by a pivot 35 carried by the hand grip portion 12 for pivotal movement between a cocked or retracted position as illustrated in full line configuration in FIG. 2 and a fired or forward position as illustrated in dotted line configuration in FIG. 2.

The hammer 33 includes a thumb engaging element 36 which projects upwardly beyond the hammer receiving recess 34 to facilitate retraction of the hammer to the cocked position. The hammer also includes a spring engaging portion 38 provided with a suitable recess for receiving the upper end of a thrust pin 39 which is positioned within the chamber 13. Thrust pin 39 is provided with a collar 40 adjacent its upper end which provides a bearing surface for a helical coil spring 41. Actually the thrust pin 39 is comprised of an upper section and a lower section disposed in telescoping relation, the upper section being urged upwardly by the spring 41 for constantly biasing the hammer 33 in a forward direction towards the fired position. Therefore the hammer when urged to the cocked or retracted position, is moved against the bias of the spring 41.

Referring now to FIGS. 2 and 3, it will be seen that the hammer 33 is recessed as at 42 for accommodating a striker element 43, the latter being pivotally connected by a pivot 44 to the hammer for pivotal movement relative thereto. The thumb engaging element 36 of the hammer 33 is provided with a suitable aperture as is the striker element 43 for accommodating the ends of a small helical coil spring 45 that normally urges the striker element 43 forwardly about the pivot 44 relative to the hammer 33. The forward surface 46 of the striker element 43 is alternately moved into a position to strike either the upper firing pin 29 or the lower firing pin 30 as the hammer 33 is successively cocked and released.

The mechanism for positioning the striker element 43 in a position to alternately strike the upper and lower firing pins comprises a cocking or hammer retaining member 47 pivotally mounted on the hammer pivot 35 for pivotal movement relative to the frame 11. It will be seen that this retaining member 47 is generally in the shape of a cross having four spaced-apart similar arms 48 radiating or projecting outwardly therefrom. It will be seen that each arm 48 of the retaining member 47 has a small protuberance or tab 49 located adjacent one outer corner thereof the function of which will be more fully described hereinbelow.

The striker element 43 has a cocking or retaining notch 50 located in the lower front corner thereof and which is disposed in engagement with one corner of one of the arms 48 of the retaining member 47, as best seen in FIG. 2. Thus, it will be seen that when the hammer 33 is moved from the forward position, as illustrated in dotted line configuration of FIG. 2, towards the retracted or cocked position, as illustrated in full line configuration of FIG. 2, not only is the striker element of the hammer also retracted but the striker element causes the retaining member 47 to be rotated in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 2. The spring 45 serves to constantly urge the striker element 43 into engaging relation with the retaining member 47.

The trigger mechanism for releasing the hammer 33 from its cocked position comprises a trigger 51 which projects downwardly through a socket formed in the barrel supporting portion and trigger supporting and guard member 16 and 17, respectively. The trigger 51 includes an elongate rearwardly projecting finger 52 which is pivotally mounted by a pivot 53 secured to the frame 11. A small spring 54 engages one end of the trigger 51 and normally urges the same in a counterclockwise direction about its pivot 53. The rear terminal end portion of the finger 52 defines a trigger retaining element 55 for engaging the outermost surface of one of the arms 48 of the retaining member 47 and for retaining the hammer 33 in a retracted position. When the trigger is pulled to pivot in a clockwise direction about its pivot 53 and against the bias of the spring 54, it will be seen that the trigger retaining element 55 will be moved out of engaging relation with respect to the retaining member 47 and permits the hammer along with the striker element 43 to be released and impelled forwardly against one of the firing pins.

Cir

The spring 41 serves to provide the impelling force for the hammer and striker element as it is released for firing.

The hammer 33 also has a forwardly facing safety notch 56 thereon for preventing forward movement of the hammer and striker element when the hammer has been retracted in a cocking direction only a slight distance from its forwardmost or fired position. Means are also provided for causing the retaining member to position the striker element for alternate striking of either the upper or lower firing pin. To this end, an elongate substantially flat latch bar 57 is secured at one end thereof to the hand grip portion 12 of the frame 11 and is disposed in the chamber 13. The upper end portion of this generally flat rectangular latch bar is disposed in close proximity to the outermost surface of the arms 43. Therefore when each arm is revolved in a counterclockwise direction the latch bar is successively engaged by the tab 49 of each arm to allow the hammer and striker element 43 to move relative to the retaining member 47. With this particular arrangement, when the hammer is retracted to the position illustrated in FIG. 2, the retaining member 47 will be disposed in a position to allow the striker clement upon release thereof to strike the lowermost firing pin 30. However, in the next successive cocking operation, the retaining member willbe revolved one eighth of a turn and will have the arm thereof which is illustrated as engaging the striker element 43 disposed in a rearwardly inclined position so that the striker element 43 can pivot relative to the hammer 33 a shorter distance than its previous cocked position. Thus the relation of the striker element relative to the hammer in each successive cocked position through cooperation of the retaining member 43 and the latch bar 57 allows the striker element to alternately strike either the upper or lower firing pin. It will be seen that the hammer 33 must be cocked eight successive times before the retaining member 47 is moved through a complete revolution.

The pistol 10 is also provided with a unique safety means which prevents accidental discharge or firing of the pistol in the event that the pistol is accidently dropped. Referring now to FIGS. 3 and 4 it will be seen that one side of the hand grip portion 12 of the frame 11 has a safety receiving bore 59 therein which communicates with the hammer receiving recess 34. The opposite side of the hand grip portion 12 has a threaded recess 60 therein disposed in coaxial alignment with the bore 59 which also communicates with the hammer receiving recess 34. A substantially cylindrically shaped safety member 61 is positioned within the bore 59 for axial move ment therewith and projects exteriorly of the hand grip portion 12. This safety member has a rearwardly projecting tooth or pawl 62 thereon which is positioned within the hammer receiving recess 34 and which projects rearwardly thereof. It will be seen that this pawl 62 has an inclined surface for cooperative engagement with the inclined surface 63 of the hammer 33 when the safety member is in the safe or on position.

The inner end portion of the safety member 61 is flattened as at 64 and this flattened portion has a longitudinally extending guide slot 65 therein. A guide pin 66 having a threaded head 67 projects through the guide slot 65 and the threaded head thereof threadedly engages a threaded socket in the breach wall member 18. Thus the guide pin 66 serves to guide axial movement of the safety member 61 as the latter is shifted into and out of locked relation with respect to the hammer.

The threaded recess 60 has a hollow exteriorly threaded spring positioning member 68 threadedly engaged therein, the latter preferably having an exterior end surface thereof disposed in substantially coplanar relation with the exterior surface of the hand grip portion. This spring positioning member 68 has a spring receiving socket 69 therein for receiving the small helical coil spring 70 which has one end thereof disposed in bearing engagement with the end of the flattened portion 64 of the safety member 61. It will therefore be seen that the spring 70 normally urges the safety member 61 outwardly of the hand grip portion 12.

To shift the safety member 61 to a position to obstruct forward movement of the hammer 33, it is merely necessary for the operator to retract the hammer in a rearward or cocking direction and thereafter urge the safety member 61 inwardly against the bias of the spring 70 until the safety pawl 62 is disposed in obstructing relation with respect to the forward or beveled surface of the hammer 33. Thereafter, when the hammer is allowed to move forward, the forward beveled edge 63 thereof will be locked against further forward movement by the engagement with the locking pawl 62.

Referring again to FIG. 3 it will be seen that the flattened portion of the safety member has a thickness dimension substantially smaller than the remaining portion of the safety member thereby permitting the beveled leading edge of the hammer to be moved forwardly sufficiently enough so that the striking surface 46 of the striker element 43 can strike the firing pins. Therefore when the safety member 61 is moved to a position so that the locking pawl 62 thereof is not disposed in obstructing relation with respect to the leading edge of the hammer, the hammer may be moved to its fully forward position.

In order to obviate interference of the flattened portion 64 with the striking surface 46 of the striker element 43, it will be seen from FIG. 2 that the flattened portion 64 is actually disposed in a guide slot or recess 71 formed in the rear surface of the breach wall member 18. This disposes the rear surface of the flattened portion 64 substantially coplanar or slightly countersunk with respect to the rear surface of the breach wall member 18. It will therefore be seen that the striking surface 46 of the striker element 43 may be moved into striking or engaging relation with the rear surface of the breach wall member. Since the coil spring 70 normally urges the safety member to its off position, it will be seen that it is necessary for an operator to positively shift the safety member to the on or safety position before the pawl thereof is capable of interlocking with the hammer. This particular safety feature prevents accidental discharge of the gun in the event that the latter is roughly handled or dropped while the safety mechanism is in the on or locked position.

It will therefore be seen that I have provided a unique derringer type pistol having a novel safety device which is arranged and positioned for easy operation by a user.

It will further be seen that the novel safety device not only prevents accidental firing of the pistol but requires no alteration of the existing structure of the derringer type pistol.

Therefore it will be seen that I have provided a novel derringer type pistol with a unique safety device which is not only of simple and inexpensive construction but which functions in a more efiicient manner than any heretofore known comparable device.

It will, of course, be understood that various changes may be made in the form, details, arrangement and proportions of the various parts without departing from the scope of my invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In a pistol having a barrel structure pivotally mounted on a handle structure,

a firing pin carried by said handle structure and being axially shiftable between a normally retracted position and a forward firing position to project into the rear end of said barrel,

a hammer mechanism shiftably mounted on said handle structure for movement between a forward firing position and a retracted cocked position, said hammer mechanism having a forwardly facing striker surface and having a locking edge located forwardly and laterally of said striker surface,

manually operable trigger means for releasably holding said hammer mechanism in the retracted cocked position, means for normally urging said hammer mechanism 5 towards the firing position when released whereby said striker surface strikes said firing pin to urge the same to the forward firing position,

a safety member shiftably mounted on said handle structure and having an outer portion projecting exteriorly of said handle adjacent one side thereof and having an inner portion, said inner portion having a beveled locking pawl thereon, said safety member being shiftable to move the inner portion thereof so that said locking pawl is movable into and out of obstructing relation With respect to the locking edge of said hammer mechanism, said locking pawl when disposed in obstructing relation with said locking edge of the hammer mechanism engaging the same and preventing engagement of the firing pin by said striker surface,

cooperating guide means on said handle structure and safety member respectively comprising a pin element and slot element, one of which is on said handle structure and the other element being on said safety member,

and yieldable resilient means engaging said safety member for normally urging the same in a direction so that the locking pawl thereof is urged out of obstructing relation with respect to the locking edge of said hammer mechanism.

2. In a derringer type pistol having a barrel structure including a pair of barrels arranged one above the other, said barrel structure being pivotally mounted on a handle structure,

a pair of vertically spaced-apart firing pins carried by said handle structure and each being axially shiftable between a normally retracted position and a forward firing position to project to the rear end of one of said barrels,

a hammer mechanism shiftably mounted on said handle structure for movement between a forward firing position and a retracted cocked position, said hammer mechanism having a forwardly facing striker surface and having a locking edge located forwardly and laterally of said striker surface,

manually operable trigger means for releasably holding said hammer mechanism in the retracted cocked position,

means interrelated with said hammer mechanism for positioning the striker surface so that the latter alternately strikes one of said firing pins during each successive release of said hammer mechanism from its cocked retracted position,

means for normally urging said hammer mechanism towards the firing position when released whereby said striker surface strikes one of said firing pins,

a safety member shiftably mounted on said handle structure and having an outer portion projecting exiteriorly of said handle adjacent one side thereof and having an inner portion,

said inner portion having a beveled locking pawl thereon, said safety member being shiftable to move the inner portion thereof so that said locking pawl is movable into and out of obstructing relation with respect to the locking edge of said hammer mechanism, said locking pawl being disposed in obstructing relation with respect to said locking edge and the hammer mechanism engaging the same and preventing striking of the firing pin by said striker surface,

cooperating guide means on said handle structure and safety member respectively comprising a pin element and a slot element, one of which is on said handle structure and the other element being on said safety member,

and yieldable resilient means engaging said safety memsaid inner portion of said safety member having an ber for normally urging the same in a direction so that the locking pawl thereof is urged out of obstructing relation with respect to the locking edge of said hammer mechanism.

elongate slot therein,

a guide pin on said handle structure projecting through said slot and cooperating with the latter for guiding said safety member during shiftable movement thereof,

and yieldable resilient means engaging said safety member for normally urging the same in a direction so that the locking pawl thereof is urged out of obstructing relation with respect to the locking edge of the hammer mechanism.

4. The pistol as defined in claim 3 wherein said locking edge located forwardly of said striker surface, ing edge on the hammer mechanism has a complementary a safety member shiftably mounted on said handle beveled surface thereon for engaging the beveled surface structure and having an outer portion projecting eX- 15 of said locking pawl. teriorly of said handle adjacent one side thereof and 5, The i tol as d fin d i l i 3 h i id i dhaving an inner portion, a beveled locking pawl 0n able resilient means for urging said safety member out Said inner Portion, Said Safety member being Shiftof obstructing relation with respect to the hammer mechamove F inner PQ thereof 50 that Said nism is carried by that side of the handle structure of locking pawl is movable into and out of obstruct- 20 the pistol located oppositely of the exterior projecting ing relation with respect to the locking edge of said portion f Said Safety member. hammer mechanism, said locking pawl when disposed in obstructing relation with the locking edge of the hammer mechanism engaging the same and preventing the striker surface thereof from engag- 25 BENJAMIN A. BORCHELT, Primary Examiner. ing the firing pin,

3. In a pistol having a barrel structure pivotally mounted on a handle structure,

a hammer mechanism shiftably mounted on said handle structure for movement between a firing position and a retracted cocked position for firing the firing 10 pin of said pistol, said hammer mechanism having a forwardly facing striker surface and having a lock- No references cited. 

3. IN A PISTON HAVING A BARREL STRUCTURE PIVOTALLY MOUNTED ON A HANDLE STRUCTURE, A HAMMER MECHANISM SHIFTABLY MOUNTED ON SAID HANDLE STRUCTURE FOR MOVENENT BETWEEN A FIRING POSITION AND A RETRACTED COCKED POSITION FOR FIRING THE FIRING PIN OF SAID PISTOL, SAID HAMMER MECHANISM HAVING A FORWARDLY FACING STRICKER SURFACE AND HAVING A LOCKING EDGE LOCATED FORWARDLY OF SAID STRIKER SURFACE, A SAFETY MEMBER SHIFTABLY MOUNTED ON SAID HANDLE STRUCTURE AND HAVING AN OUTER PORTION PROJECTING EXTERIORLY OF SAID HANDLE ADJACENT ON SIDE THEREOF AND HAVING AN INNER PORTION, A BEVELED LOCKING PAWL ON SAID INNNER PORTION, SAID SAFETY MEMBER BEING SHIFTABLE TO MOVE THE INNER PORTION THEREOF SO THAT SAID LOCKING PAWL IS MOVABLE INTO AND OUT OF OBSTRUCTING RELATION WITH RESPECT TO THE LOCKING EDGE OF SAID HAMMER MECHANISM, SAID LOCKING PAWL WHEN DISPOSED IN OBSTRUCTING RELATION WITH THE LOCKING EDGE OF THE HAMMER MECHANISM ENGAGING THE SAME AND PREVENTING THE STRIKER SURFACE THEREOF FROM ENGAGING THE FIRING PIN, SAID INNER PORTION OF SAID SAFETY MEMBER HAVING AN ELONGATE SLOT THEREIN, A GUIDE PIN ON SAID HANDLE STRUCTURE PROJECTING THROUGH SAID SLOT AND COOPERATING WITH THE LATTER FOR GUIDING SAID SAFETY MEMBER DURING SHIFTABLE MOVEMENT THEREOF, AND YIELDABLE RESILIENT MEANS ENGAGING SAID SAFETY MEMBER FOR NORMALLY URGING THE SAMD IN A DIRECTION SO THAT THE LOCKING PAWL THEREOF IS URGED OUT OF OBSTRUCTING RELATION WITH RESPECT TO THE LOCKING EDGE OF THE HAMMER MECHANISM. 